This blog post has three separate wrap-ups.
First, we will close our 12-part series on ActonKL’s Learning Design.
Second, a reflection of the Spark (Preschool / PS) Studio growth thus far.
Third, Exhibition Week.
Here we go for a multi-layer wrap 😛
ActonKL’s Learning Design, Part 12 of 12
What does this entire pyramid represent?
It is a scaffold, in the form of a pyramid. But is that all there is? You might ask: how about other languages? An ambitious design can include five and make good arguments about learning old Latin, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, and even Sanskrit. For Science, it stretches from Physics to Social Science: Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and so on. For Arts, human expression is endless. Let’s not get started with character and morality. The topic of Curriculum is infinite.
In the world of increasing complexity, it’s essential to Learn how to Learn. Bruner, Vygotsky, and Piaget have contributed insights into how we learn and develop cognitively. They showed us how we could create connections through scaffolding and constructivist principles. Acton Academy’s daily rigor is honing a process of learning through a Pyramid of activities (the Learning Design), in a continuous scaffold that is owned by the learner (Eagle) himself. And when that happens, or when all the body of knowledge finally “click,” the learner become a Master Builder! A Master Builder who uses his gift to serve callings.
“I can see everything!”
“I’m a Master Builder.”
It is undoubtedly cooler (and more meaningful) than Emmet following instructions and singing “Everything is Awesome!”
Are you ready to trust your child (yourself) to become a Master Builder?
A Reflection of the Spark Studio
written by Aaron (Spark a.k.a. Preschool / PS Guide)
Today marks the end of our second Sprint. What a journey it has been! Sprint: To run at full speed for a short distance. As a studio, we have been taking each Sprint at full speed. What if a fellow traveler loses momentum? Expect those pauses to be temporary. The energy and intensity in the Studio are almost always contagious. This energy (which you can feel the moment you step into the Acton campuses) is the beauty of a multi-age studio setting that is entrusted to grow.
It has been intense, loud, quick, slow, extreme highs and extreme lows. At times, it feels as if I am a part of a live musical. Lights, music, dance, and songs. The Eagles could be having lunch, and suddenly the whole studio breaks out into song and dance before returning to the task at hand. Or maybe I was caught into their flash mob.
One struggle I was experiencing was if I had expectations set too high for our little ones. Were we expecting too much from them? Can a 4-year-old self-govern and be accountable to their fellow travelers? Hold and respect boundaries that they agree to? Come up with solutions to problems in the studio and see them through?
Let me take you through a typical day in the PS Studio. The day begins with Eagles arriving, placing their bags at designated areas, using the fridge for their fresh fruits and picking up a book as they wait for other fellow travelers. Soon it’s time to be outside playing. Some days they are busy and engaged in using the loose parts, negotiating if not insisting on how the play should be; or climbing the tree; and on other days, they sit around and do nothing.
Soon, it’s time to clean up. The studio goes into autopilot mode. It starts with the Eagles in charge of time removing the schedule card and setting up the hourglass. As the sand trickles away, the Eagles move from one task/activity to another. Before the last drop of sand (meaning, end of the one-hour-block), the Eagles complete several tasks (or levels as the Eagles like to call them) and its lunch time.
The day intensifies. Lunch follows into play—free play to be exact. It was a challenge for all the Eagles at the first Sprint: constant and almost daily conflicts; some struggled more than others. They struggled not just with finding the balance with one another as fellow travelers but also with the level of freedom and trust, entrusted to them.
Every day is different; every day is a new day. Lessons learned in the studio are priceless, and it’s continuous, not just for the Eagles but also for me (the Guide). The Studio has matured on levels of remembering to keep time, holding boundaries among themselves, and negotiating their play. I am proud of every one of them, of taking these steps in their Hero’s Journey.
Are we perfect? No, we are rough on our edges. We are work in progress.
One of the many lessons I’ve learned and something I am going to leave you with is that the bar that we have set is not a target to meet but a potential to grow.
3 months ago (just got on the train, literally):
To this (more complex play, tougher challenges, and more responsibility): 
Exhibition Week – Elementary and Middle Studios
As usual, the studios are busy right before the Exhibition. This week is no different. The ES studios are making toys, putting up a Sci-fi story, and planning the exhibition. The emotion runs high: excitement, nervousness, and last-minute shocks, a.k.a. Cold feet.
For the ES, the exhibition had 13 different toys. Each of them with various physics concepts and a showcase of many exciting stories! Marble runs, dart game, ship, raft, race car, musical instruments, etc.
For the MS, the exhibition is about competing in two groups, of different Physics experiments: most of it to balance or protect an egg. The tests ranged from calculating levers, egg bungee, running an egg into a cup, pulleys, dynamic bungee and finally, a projectile across 20 meters. The reality of these experiments is that the success rate is low. But that is the challenge of the being Scientists. I will let most of the videos and photos do the talking.
In their reflection, many shared the mistakes they made. It also meant the many lessons were learned. Here’s a reminder: we fail early, cheaply, and often.
Despite the challenges, Eagles enjoyed themselves. There is dopamine rush as they worked hard, and progressed towards a common goal (this is the most sustainable way to achieve meaning).
Reflection, Closure & Celebrations!
The exhibition, being on a Thursday morning (and Thursday afternoon for the MS Eagles), meant more time for reflection and closure. The Eagles went through personal maintenance to file away all work from this sprint, closed with a badge ceremony and then jumped away to Amped Park!
And the ES Eagles also celebrated Jared’s and Shreya’s Birthday on Thursday and Friday separately. Happy Birthday, Jared and Shreya!
“See you in 2 weeks.”
“What?!! Two weeks is too long!”
MS Eagles also had their dose of fun too, in District 21, Putrajaya.
Final Wishes
Acton Academy will have a two weeks holiday. Happy Easter Holidays everyone!
Each celebration allows us to ponder a bit more about the culture around us. Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection means many things. I’m going to risk it and share my interpretation (as a non-Christian). I see Jesus as the resemblance of the highest human potential. And that human potential transcends death. Like Aaron’s ending note, maybe that is how much we need to believe in the children (the Eagles) and other human beings. It is the pre-requisite to developing what they can be, and this is the first thing we do as Acton Guides: lift the eyes of Eagles to the horizon.
I’m wrapping this blog post with Viktor Frankl explaining why believe in others. Let’s overestimate the human potential this Easter.